BIODIVERSITY OF CROATIA

AREAS
PROTECTED AREAS
According to the Croatian Nature Protection Act, protected
areas are classified in 9 categories.
Currently, there are 444 protected nature areas designated
in various categories, covering a total area of 5124.80 km 2
(9.05% of total territory). The largest portion of the territory is
protected in the nature park or national park categories. There
are 2 strict reserves, 8 national parks and 10 nature parks already
protected and an 11 th nature park, the Lastovo Archipelago,
is in the process of designation. Several areas are in the process
of designation in other categories.
NATIONAL PARKS
AREA/ha
PLITVICE LAKES 29,482
PAKLENICA 9,600
RISNJAK 6,400
MLJET 5,375
KORNATI 21,700
BRIJUNI 3,395
KRKA 10,900
NORTHERN VELEBIT 10,900
NATURE PARKS
AREA/ha
KOPA^KI RIT 23,894
MEDVEDNICA 22,826
VELEBIT 200,000
BIOKOVO 19,550
TELA[]ICA 7,050
LONJSKO POLJE 50,600
PAPUK 33,600
U^KA 16,000
VRANSKO LAKE 5,700
@UMBERAK-SAMOBORSKO GORJE 33,300
Three of the eight national parks (Kornati, Brijuni and Mljet)
are insular and characterised by rich marine life.
Vransko Lake Nature Park, on the coast near Zadar, is the largest
natural lake in Croatia and is important for breeding and
wintering birds.
The Northern Velebit, Risnjak and Paklenica National Parks are
mountainous areas characterised by particular relief features
with numerous limestone rocks and screes, high-mountain
meadows and vast forest complexes. Habitat diversity in addition
to geographical isolation has led to the development of
specific vegetation and numerous endemics.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s oldest national park, and Krka National
Park are characterised by unique karst morphology and hydrology,
travertine barriers, lakes and cascades.
Six of ten Croatian nature parks cover mountain areas (Medvednica,
@umberak-Samoborsko gorje, U~ka, Biokovo, Velebit
and Papuk).
The Kopa~ki rit and Lonjsko polje Nature Parks are large flooded
areas of the Pannonian lowland, and each includes a special
ornithological reserve. Rivers surrounding and flooding
these areas are the cause of high habitat and wildlife diversity,
in particular of ornithofauna.
Vransko Lake Nature Park on the Croatian coast near Zadar
(photo: NP Vransko Lake)
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